If you cleared NEET-UG 2026 and registered for central counselling, the clock is now running on one of the most consequential steps in your entire MBBS or BDS journey: choice filling. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), which runs admissions to the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats in government colleges plus certain central institutions and deemed universities, has opened the Round 1 choice-filling window. The order in which you list colleges and courses now will directly shape which seat you get offered, so this is not a step to rush through in the last hour. This piece walks through the exact dates, how AIQ differs from state quota, and what candidates in PwD, NRI and OCI categories should specifically verify before locking anything.
Lock your Round 1 choices on the MCC portal only after ranking colleges in an order you would genuinely accept, and do it well before the August 13, 11 am deadline — a missed lock affects your participation in that round.
The Round 1 timeline you cannot afford to misread
Choice filling for Round 1 opened on August 7 at 4 pm. Candidates get a window to browse available colleges and courses, add them to a preference list, and reorder them as many times as needed before the list is finalised.
Choice locking begins on August 12 at 4 pm, and the entire choice-filling-and-locking window shuts on August 13 at 11 am. Once locked, that list is what the seat allotment algorithm uses — there is no going back to edit it after the deadline for this round.
- Choice filling starts: August 7, 4 pm
- Choice locking starts: August 12, 4 pm
- Choice filling and locking closes: August 13, 11 am
This is Round 1 only — not the end of counselling
It's easy to assume that once this window closes, your counselling options are settled. That is not the case. August 13 is only the deadline for Round 1 choices. Later rounds — including mop-up and any state-run rounds — will have their own separate choice-filling and locking schedules.
Treat Round 1 as your first real shot at a seat, not your only one. A strong, well-thought-out list here improves your chances, but candidates who don't get their preferred seat in Round 1 still have further rounds to work with, subject to seat availability and their own rank.
AIQ vs state quota: track both, separately
MCC only handles the 15% AIQ seats in participating government medical and dental colleges, along with seats in specified central and deemed universities and a few other categories under its mandate. It does not run counselling for state quota seats.
Every state runs its own counselling for state-quota seats, with its own registration, choice-filling and locking dates, which can differ from the MCC calendar. If you are eligible for both AIQ and your home state's quota — which is true for most NEET candidates — you must monitor both portals independently. Missing a state deadline while focused only on MCC (or vice versa) can cost you a seat you were otherwise eligible for.
How to actually build your preference list
A common mistake is filling choices in a hurry or listing only a handful of 'dream' colleges. Since allotment depends on your NEET rank, category, seat availability and the order of your choices, a longer, well-researched list generally gives the algorithm more options to work with — but every entry should be a seat you would truly be willing to join, because allotted seats come with reporting and, in many cases, exit-cost implications if you back out.
- Check the course (MBBS/BDS), college type (government, deemed, central institute), quota and category eligibility for each entry before adding it
- Look at previous years' closing ranks for a similar sense of where your rank might realistically land — but don't treat old cutoffs as guarantees, since seat matrices and demand shift yearly
- Rank colleges by genuine preference — location, fees, hostel, course — not just perceived prestige, since a higher-ranked choice you wouldn't actually join is a wasted slot
- Review the full list carefully before locking; once August 13, 11 am passes, this round's list is final
PwD, NRI and OCI candidates: don't rely on last year's rules
MCC issues separate notices covering document and eligibility requirements for candidates applying under Persons with Disabilities (PwD), Non-Resident Indian (NRI) and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) categories. These requirements can be revised from one counselling cycle to the next.
Candidates in these categories should check the current year's MCC notifications directly rather than assuming last year's process still applies, and should keep all category-specific certificates and documents ready well before choice locking, since verification issues discovered late can disrupt participation in a round.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What is the last date to fill and lock Round 1 choices for NEET-UG 2026?
The Round 1 choice-filling and locking window closes on August 13 at 11 am. Choice locking itself opens on August 12 at 4 pm.
Does MCC counselling cover all my seat options?
No. MCC handles only the 15% All India Quota seats in participating government colleges plus certain central/deemed institutions. Your state-quota seats are counselled separately by your state authority, on its own schedule.
What happens if I miss the August 13 deadline?
Missing the lock deadline means you will not be considered for seat allotment in that particular round. You would need to wait for a subsequent round, subject to seat availability at that stage.
Can I edit my choices after locking?
No. Once locked, the list becomes final for that round's allotment. You can only submit a fresh or revised list in a later round, if one applies to you.
How many colleges should I list as choices?
There's no fixed number, but a longer list generally improves your odds during allotment — provided every college and course you add is one you would actually be willing to join if allotted.
I qualify for both AIQ and state quota — do I need to do anything separately?
Yes. You must complete choice filling and locking on the MCC portal for AIQ and separately follow your state counselling authority's own registration and choice-filling schedule, since the two processes and their dates are independent of each other.
Where should NRI, OCI or PwD candidates check the latest rules?
On the official MCC counselling portal, which publishes category-specific notices each year. These requirements can change from year to year, so relying on older information is risky.
The next few days matter more than most people realise in the entire NEET journey — a rushed or careless choice list can affect the seat you end up with. Log in to the MCC portal now, build a preference list you'd genuinely be happy to join, and lock it well ahead of August 13, 11 am, while also keeping an eye on your state counselling authority's separate notifications.
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